Mom of dead paparazzo plans lawsuit

posted by Suzy Byrne | Yahoo! omg!
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3 years ago

(Yahoo!) - The family of Christopher Guerra – the paparazzo struck and killed by a car while trying to photograph Justin Bieber's Ferrari – is suing the California Highway Patrol.

It's been nearly three months since the New Year's Day incident, when the freelance photographer died trying to take pictures of Bieber's car, which was being driven by rapper Lil Twist, after it had been stopped by a CHP officer for speeding. Now Vicky Guerra, the mother of the 29-year-old victim, has announced she's filing a lawsuit, alleging that the officer caused her son's death by forcing him into traffic.

"He was somebody in authority and he was ordering my son to do something that was dangerous. He said it was dangerous," Vicky said, via KABC Los Angeles, during a press conference at her lawyer's office Thursday. "Twice he ordered him and my son said no. Finally 'OK I'll do it.' And what happens? Chris gets killed."

Immediately following the incident, the CHP said the officer ordered Chris to leave the scene of the traffic stop because he had crossed the street illegally and was in a dangerous area. As he walked away, he was struck by a 2007 Toyota Highlander, which was driven by a 69-year-old woman. He was pronounced dead at the hospital 30 minutes later.